Formula One News — May 2009

The nine FOTA teams put in their entries for the 2010 World Championship yesterday, as predicted, on the basis that the 2009 rules will be carried over in 2010.

Aston Martin is to enter F1 from 2012 as a fully-fledged manufacturer entrant, according to a report in Autocar magazine. The company will put its name on a new F1 team to be launched by Prodrive.

Fuji Speedway has decided not to continue with the Japanese Grand Prix. This means that Suzuka will become the home of the race once again, from this year onwards. In Japan the decision, which was made by Fuji's owners Toyota, is being seen as another indication that Toyota may be on the verge of quitting F1. However, the team is expected to lodge its F1 entry today and is expected to stay in F1 until 2012.

We suggested some time ago that there would be troubles with the government funding in Hungary, as the country has been caught badly in the financial squeeze. This is now becoming a reality with a government spokesman Domokos Szollar saying that while the government appreciates what the Grand Prix does for tourism in Budapest, the financing of the race between 2012 and 2016 is yet to be finalised.

The Monaco weekend was noted to be quiet by most of the F1 circus, with reports that corporate hospitality was down as much as 70% and the yachts looking very sparse in the harbour.

It seems that the Formula 1 teams will all enter the 2010 World Championship tomorrow, after agreeing a compromise with the the FIA. They will also agree to sign a new Concorde Agreement, which lasts only until 2012

Following Monday's confirmation that the team has submitted its formal entry for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Formula One Teams Association has today decided temporarily to suspend Williams F1 from membership of FOTA.

The Formula 1 teams are meeting again today to try to find a solution to the ongoing problems with the FIA. Williams F1 has entered the 2010 World Championship, saying that it is contractually bound to do so and that its survival depends on racing and that it cannot risk not doing that.

For the last week or so there has been a lot of talk about compromise - but very little sign of anything close to it. This a very difficult time for Formula 1, not least because the Monaco Grand Prix is where the big deals are done and, from where I was sitting, the team principals had little time available to talk to potential new sponsors because they were too busy trying to get water out of the bottom of the F1 boat and keep the whole thing afloat.

Jenson Button's only mistake on Sunday in Monte Carlo was to park the car in the wrong place after a dominant victory. This was unfortunate as his presence was required by Prince Albert and so Jenson jumped out of his car and ran off down the start-finish straight towards the podium. With five wins in six races there was much reason to celebrate. But for Jenson the joy came because it was Monaco.

Helio Castroneves won his third Indy 500 this past weekend, and the 15th win for Team Penske. The polesitter lead the final 59 laps to take the victory.

Monaco GP - Race Notes

Monaco GP - Sunday Photos

Monaco GP - Sunday Press Conference

Monaco GP - Sunday Team Quotes

Monaco GP - Race Results

Jenson Button took pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix and with a decent level of fuel in his car, things are looking very positive for the World Championship leader.

Monaco GP - Saturday Photos

There were rumours knocking around at Monaco suggesting that Bernie Ecclestone is going to buy Silverstone, in order to stage the British GP at the Northamptonshire track.

Monaco GP - Saturday Press Conference

Monaco GP - Saturday Team Quotes

Monaco GP - Qualifying Results

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time of the Saturday morning session in Monte Carlo witha lap that was just a fraction faster than the best achieved by World Championship leader Jenson Button in his Brawn.

Monaco GP - Practice 3 Results

The F1 team principals and assorted other parties spent Friday talking endlessly about some of the problems afflicting Formula 1 at the moment.